Patricia Reagan, 2016

File — Box: 2, Folder: 3

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Patty Reagan was born in Lima, Peru. Her parents worked for the State Department. Reagan’s family eventually moved to Denver where she lived throughout most of her youth. She describes growing up in Denver and the cultural diversity she experienced there, specifically in her high school. After high school, Reagan worked for the CIA. She eventually left the CIA and attended BYU where she earned her Master’s in health. Reagan also describes growing up in the LDS Church. She decided to leave the religion when she was an adult because she recognized some hypocrisy and even racism that did not align with her values. Reagan worked with Ute Indians as a teacher in a leadership program. She then attended the University of Illinois and earned her PhD in health and safety. Her teaching assistantship was as a human sexuality teacher. After Illinois, Reagan worked with migrant workers in Colorado. She then got a job in the University of Utah’s school of medicine, where she taught human sexuality, among other things. Reagan spent a sabbatical year in Berkeley, where she learned about the HIV/AIDS epidemic and its effects. She became active in AIDS education for Salt Lake City and began speaking to different groups and organizations about the disease and prevention. She was also involved with the beginning of the AIDS support line, where people could call and ask questions about the disease. Reagan talks about working with the Health Department and difficulties she had with conservative elements of Salt Lake City. She also describes the gay community in Salt Lake City, the support groups, organizations, and bars people were utilizing. Reagan also talks about coming out as a lesbian and how her coming out was linked with her work in the gay community. Reagan talks about the evolution of HIV/AIDS and treatments from the point of view of a health educator, as well as the evolution of stigmas related to HIV/AIDS and homosexuality. For Reagan, her work related to HIV/AIDS is the most rewarding work she has done throughout her career.
Interviewed by Elizabeth Clement.

Dates

2016

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.